Magnificent Foxface

Endemic to the Andaman Sea, this is one of the most boldly patterned foxfaces in the trade — black-and-white bars over a yellow body — reaching about 24 cm. It is a determined, reliable algae grazer and generally hardy once acclimated, but juveniles stay skittish and it needs a large tank to feel secure as an adult. Reef-safe with caution: well-fed fish mostly ignore stony coral, but an underfed individual will nip soft coral and LPS polyps. No captive-breeding program exists for it, so trade stock is entirely wild-caught from a naturally restricted range, and it carries the venomous fin spines typical of the family.